Corr's appointment has been criticized by conservative publications because he worked as an anti-tobacco lobbyist as recently as September 2008, having been the executive director of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. In response to the criticism, Corr's spokesman said that in his new job, Corr would recuse himself from tobacco-related issues.[2]

As Deputy Secretary of HHS, Corr is responsible for many of the day-to-day operations of the department, and among other duties, is the co-chair of the Health Care Fraud Prevention & Enforcement Action Team HEAT,[3] a task force which ferrets out Medicare fraud.